Montreal 2006?

[macdaddy]

Even though Champ Car already announced it will be returning to Montreal on Aug. 25-27, 2006, SPEEDTV.com has learned there is some kind of legal loophole that could allow Tony George's series into the road course named after Gilles Villeneuve.

Ken Ungar, IRL senior vice-president of Business Affairs, and IRL chief operating officer Brian Barnhart have reportedly reached a handshake agreement with Montreal promoter Normand Legalt to bring the IRL to Ontario (typo) in '06 with NASCAR's Busch or Craftsman Truck series.

Supposedly, Legalt told IRL officials that Champ Car has breached its contract and attorneys are examining the documents...

Kevin Kalkhoven:
"It wouldn't surprise me if that happens in 2007 but we've got a contract with Montreal for 2006. And we've also got a backup plan if Montreal does go away."

Conspiracy theories arise in this surprising SpeedTV article.

[D.R.T.]

Would be very disappointed if all of this comes to fruition. Norman Legalt seems like quite the sly businessman.

Interested to know of Kalkhoven back up plan, Calgary ? (or if there even is one). Everytime Champ Car makes a move foward something occurs to knock it about, unfortunate but I suppose thats life.

[macdaddy]

The promotion given to this year's race would make me believe that ChampCar would be much better off without Legalt.

D.R.T, you use the word "sly" - I may not have been so kind.

[indycool]

Interesting. Seems to be a lot going on with motorsports in Canada right now. Rumors about a NASCAR race were squelched in a story out of Richmond that NASCAR would not run in Canada in '06. Singleton is rumored to be returning from San Jose to Molson with JoAnn McArthur leaving at the end of the month. Does that mean Singleton would shore up CC with Molson or does it mean that, after one year dealing with CC at San Jose, it's "no mas?" The other thread here about Molson dropping Toronto and Montreal is also a strange thing. The Molson-Coors merger could have something to do with all of this. Or, with the NHL returning, Molstar's deal for TV production with CC could go away. Just a whole lotta shakin' goin' on.

[icemachine]

If they do lose Montreal, would they go to Trois-Rivieres or Mont-Tremblant?

[paul-collins]

Trois Rivieres is too tight for Champcars and Mont-Tremblant is a no-go without upgrades, which will not happen for them (or for anyone sub-Busch really).

[Amar7605]

It would be interesting to see what CC's backup plan is. Personally, I am hoping for a nautral road course in Canada, but we'll see.

On the other hand, someone mentioned in another thread that NASCAR has only so many weekends to have race weekends. On the weekend that CC is in Montreal, NASCAR is in Bristol, which is a Saturday night race, but it is very popular and both Busch and the Trucks are there. I mean, 160,00 people show up there, you think NASCAR is gonna give that up?

[macdaddy]

The Montreal date can easily be changed. The only stipulation that I know of, is that they can only race on the circuit twice per year.

[Amar7605]

Even then, Macdaddy, NASCAR's schedule is pretty full, unless they want to add one more race weekend or bump a race off of it's schedule.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by Amar7605

Even then, Macdaddy, NASCAR's schedule is pretty full, unless they want to add one more race weekend or bump a race off of it's schedule.

As mentioned in the other thread, if it happens expect it to be a Busch Series race with several Cup stars making one of their usual "guest apparences", much like when NASCAR made its first trip to Mexico earlier this year (which also saw quite a few Mexican drivers get solid rides for the race and doing quite well, which pumped up the already big interest even more).

[Amar7605]

True, rusty. If that is the case with Mexican drivers, then you can be sure that Paul Tracy will end up being a NASCAR driver

[Snrub]

Good news, it looks like Montreal is safe for at least 2006: http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/19567/

[paul-collins]

It certainly steers away from stating that Norm has not had discussions or handshakes with them, though.

[macdaddy]

My impression is that they just couldn't find the legal "loophole" that they were looking for. And the PR was pretty bad.

[Amar7605]

They have to honor the contract for 2006, but after that? That remains to be seen.

[macdaddy]

Paul Newman:

If what you say is true, we shouldn't come back here next year. They don't want us here and they won't promote the race. Why should we come back here?

(From the end of this article)

[Mike_Wooshy]

Mosport !! (as a replacement for back up plan !!)

[Amar7605]

Mr. Newman brings up a valid point. Isn't there a suitable course near Montreal?

[macdaddy]

I also agree with Mr. Newman.
Getting Montreal was a great thing.
The active word being, "was".

[paul-collins]

The real question is, is Champcar just going to sulk about it or are they going to figure out how to make their product worthwhile for Legault?

I mean, if he's got a line on a Busch (plus ringers) race maybe it's too late, but if not, then surely there would be some way to improve the race weekend to outclass a Craftsman Truck race?

[jjspierx]

Originally Posted by Mike_Wooshy

Mosport !! (as a replacement for back up plan !!)

Great track, but not well suited for Champcar. Only 1 real passing zone and it would be scary in a champcar. I've also heard the runoff area's aren't enough for the speed of Champcars.

[codename_47]

Originally Posted by paul-collins

The real question is, is Champcar just going to sulk about it or are they going to figure out how to make their product worthwhile for Legault?

I mean, if he's got a line on a Busch (plus ringers) race maybe it's too late, but if not, then surely there would be some way to improve the race weekend to outclass a Craftsman Truck race?

They could, but if the guy won't put up grandstands for people to watch in.....what's the point?

It seems that it's certain that NASCAR takes our date for 2007 onwards, and unless something unexpected happens like the city elders decide a third weekend would be okay for the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, or Bernie throws another wobbly about the F1 weekend, Champcar will be gone.

But I'd love to hear suggestions about what Champcar could do to make next weekend so great it'd encroach them into the date.
Short of bringing along their own grandstands and giving away thousands upon thousands of free tickets to anyone within a 10-mile radius, I've no ideas!

[Amar7605]

Consider this - and I am just throwing this out there: is Montreal that critical to Champ Car as oppossed to, say, Calgary? Or Philadelphia, if that happens?

[macdaddy]

Amar... In my opinion... No, it is not.

ChampCar thrived without Montreal before, they can do it again.

[Snrub]

Why not Quebec City? There's your mid-sized Canadian city, perhaps they could manage a repeat of Edmonton's success?

There's two passing zones, casino corner and the chicane (8-9?) that exit onto the champion's wall. I will freely admit that the races haven't been terrific there. If F1 can run at Montreal safely, there's no reason why the stronger Champ Cars can't. Not to mention that 180mph+ on a street course has to be more dangerous.